Gatwick seating pre security and lounge - help please

[RhodesWoes]

Can anyone advise please

Is there somewhere to sit and wait before check in opens?

I need to get a national express to Gatwick but will get there five hours early- is there any where to wait.

And on the same theme - any recommendations on lounges - I will be there for so long I want to have somewhere nice to be once I've gone through security - despite my name I will be traveling long haul, although from Gatwick North.

The nicest places to wait are one of the hotels…Sofitel or premier inn are easy and have bar areas to ge5 tea or whatever.

Who are you flying with? BA let you checkin early you could then go through security take a look round shops before going to a ccc lounge. I’d recommend pre booking to guarantee entry. I like No 1 lounge and Club Lounge as they serve sparkling wine 😉

I thought about a hotel, but I take it you have to book a room? Which I'm not sure is worth it for 2 hours (happy to be told otherwise, I've not done LH before)

I like the idea of a lounge as it is past security and has an offer where you can stay if flight is delayed

Was planning on No1, and do like sparkling wine!

Sorry flying with Eastern China

What time will you be arriving? There's a wetherspoons before security in the south terminal, opens at 4am I believe. Then you can just get on the shuttle to the north.

We had the issue but in reverse, we landed 5 hours before the 1st train of the day, so spent a good few hours camped out in Greggs 😆

That is helpful thanks - we will be there about 4.30 am a wetherspoons would be great, I didn't know the south was before security- plus taking the bus will take up time!

A few hours in Greggs! Mind you I like their coffee

Anyone can use the hotel bars. To be fair I’d forgotten about the Wetherspoons before security.

It's two minutes on the monorail.

There are more options before security in the south terminal than the north terminal (another who has spent time waiting for the first trains out after a flight delay meant I missed the last trains). There are also some seats up on first floor along from Wetherspoons and Giraffe which are vaguely comfortable- combined with a suitcase to put my feet on I got some sleep.

lf you can’t go through to airside on arrival you are probably better off in the south terminal (more facilities). As PP said the 2 terminals are just a couple of minutes away.

When airside, a lounge is worth pre booking, but do check the opening hours. Have a good trip.

Wouldn’t you be better off booking more expensive transportation that doesn’t arrive 5 hours early rather than spending the difference on food, drinks and lounges?

Yes, normally . But I'm chaperoning a friend's children on the National Express - so need to be on that particular coach.

Thanks for the tips about the South Terminal having more options - I shall do that and then head to the lounge. I've not done a lounge before (I normally get to the airport as late as humanly possible!)

You can't take kids in lounges I don't think

OP doesn't want to take any kids into the lounges.

Not so. Plaza, No.1 Lounge and Club Aspire accept children.

This may not apply but last time I flew, they wouldn't let me into the lounge (can't remember which one) until my time slot. I can't remember if I overestimated the time it would take me to arrive and check in or whether you could only book a 2 hour time slot but I was there about 45 minutes early and had to wait.

No I most certainly don't 😂.

My chaperone service on the coach is the top of my limit when it comes to children - thankfully I am only escorting them to be collected at the other end (and they are young teens so I don't forsee any issues)

Thanks. I am still going to have to wait around- I've booked three hours, but I don't think I will have that long as I have luggage to check in.

So now plan is wetherspoons/south Terminal then lounge